# How old do you have to be to work at Cook Out?

You have to be at least 16 to work at Cook Out. State law can raise the age.

Cook Out's own paper crew application says applicants "must be at least 16." Cook Out restaurants are company-run rather than franchised, and current postings tell you to apply in person and ask the manager on duty about requirements.

- Minimum age: 16
- Most locations: 16
- Franchised: no
- Confidence: From job postings
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## By job

- Crew member (cashier/cook): 16+ (Stated on Cook Out's crew application form)

## By state (youngest possible age)

| State | Age | Work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 | needed |
| Alaska | 16 | needed |
| Arizona | 16 | no |
| Arkansas | 16 | no |
| California | 16 | needed |
| Colorado | 16 | no |
| Connecticut | 16 | needed |
| Delaware | 16 | needed |
| District of Columbia | 16 | needed |
| Florida | 16 | no |
| Georgia | 16 | no |
| Hawaii | 16 | needed |
| Idaho | 16 | no |
| Illinois | 16 | no |
| Indiana | 16 | no |
| Iowa | 16 | no |
| Kansas | 16 | no |
| Kentucky | 16 | no |
| Louisiana | 16 | needed |
| Maine | 16 | no |
| Maryland | 16 | needed |
| Massachusetts | 16 | needed |
| Michigan | 16 | needed |
| Minnesota | 16 | no |
| Mississippi | 16 | no |
| Missouri | 16 | no |
| Montana | 16 | no |
| Nebraska | 16 | no |
| Nevada | 16 | no |
| New Hampshire | 16 | no |
| New Jersey | 16 | needed |
| New Mexico | 16 | no |
| New York | 16 | needed |
| North Carolina | 16 | needed |
| North Dakota | 16 | no |
| Ohio | 16 | needed |
| Oklahoma | 16 | no |
| Oregon | 16 | no |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | needed |
| Rhode Island | 16 | needed |
| South Carolina | 16 | no |
| South Dakota | 16 | no |
| Tennessee | 16 | no |
| Texas | 16 | no |
| Utah | 16 | no |
| Vermont | 16 | no |
| Virginia | 16 | no |
| Washington | 16 | needed |
| West Virginia | 16 | no |
| Wisconsin | 16 | no |
| Wyoming | 16 | no |

## Questions

**How old do you have to be to work at Cook Out?**
You have to be at least 16 to work at Cook Out. State law can raise the age.

**Does Cook Out hire 14- or 15-year-olds?**
Not according to anything Cook Out publishes. Its application sets the minimum at 16, so younger teens should plan to apply once they turn 16.

**How do I apply to Cook Out?**
Go to the Cook Out location you want to work at and ask to speak with the manager on duty. Cook Out's job pages say to apply in person, and the manager can tell you which shifts are open.

**Can my state's laws change the rules for a 16-year-old at Cook Out?**
Yes. Some states limit how late 16- and 17-year-olds can work or require a work permit for anyone under 18. Cook Out has to follow the stricter rule, so check your state's teen work laws before you apply.

## Sources

- Cook Out employment application (crew), cookout.com (archived copy): https://web.archive.org/web/20240913201956/https://cookout.com/wp-content/uploads/NEW-APPLICATIONS-2020.pdf
- Cook Out employment application, Maryland version (archived copy): https://web.archive.org/web/20241015011403/https://cookout.com/wp-content/uploads/NEW-APPLICATION-2020-MD-ONLY.pdf
- Crew Member – Cashier – Charlottesville, VA (Cook Out): https://cookout.com/employment/100741-crew-member-cashier-charlottesville-va/

Page: https://hiringage.com/cook-out/ — please cite with a link.